Spokane7
32°
April 12, 2010 in City
It isn’t just your regular Joe’s
Fans of Trader Joe’s believe Spokane would be a perfect fit for food store
Nova Duft has launched a Facebook page that now has more than 6,000 fans who want a Trader Joe’s to come to Spokane.
(Full-size photo)
In March 2009, Nova Duft launched a bring Trader Joe’s to Spokane Facebook group. A California transplant, the South Hill mom and her husband, Ward Duft, are using the Facebook group to try to woo the trendy California food store to open an outlet in Spokane.
The couple moved from San Francisco in 2006. A devoted shopper at Trader Joe’s, Nova said she started the Facebook page on a whim as a way to prod the picky, privately owned Trader Joe’s to put a store in their new hometown.
Duft – the mother of a 2 1/2-year-old daughter – forgot about the site until she looked again last winter. By then, the Facebook group had gained more than 3,500 fans.
By now it’s expanded to more than 6,300, making it one of the largest of roughly 100 similar Facebook groups focused on the same goal.
The Spokane group is also one of the most active, with more than 1,000 visits per week. The comments online are fueled by rumors (“TJ’s is coming!”) and suggestions on how people can persuade TJ’s to come to Spokane.
Some observers say the Trader Joe’s fervor – both on Facebook and off – is a symptom of this area’s ongoing need to prove it’s one of the best cities in the West.
Marty Dickinson, president of the Downtown Spokane Partnership, said the intense interest comes in part from fans knowing Trader Joe’s nearly took the plunge.
“Part of the romance with Trader Joe’s was they had their toe in the water here and then pulled out,” Dickinson said.
That one close call came in 2006, as agents for Trader Joe’s reviewed plans to move into the Empire Ford Building, near Interstate 90. They changed their minds without explanation.
Dickinson said another factor is the “why not us?” attitude of many deal-hungry food shoppers in this area.
“A little bit of it is, ‘Darn, what does it take to get one?’ ” she added. People who travel and see Trader Joe’s stores in smaller towns always compare those burgs with Spokane, she said.
“How can they have a store in some little strip mall and they can’t find a great place (to use) in Spokane, where we have five major universities?” Dickinson said.
Randy Barcus, economist for Avista Corp., worked on the failed deal in 2006. He said he made the attempt thinking Spokane residents would embrace Trader Joe’s the same way they love to shop at Costco.
The hunger for Trader Joe’s is a consumer version of the effort by the Spokane business community in the 1990s to recruit a satellite office for Microsoft, Barcus said.
“It’s like a checklist,” he said about both efforts. “Just like having a Nordstrom downtown, if you get a Trader Joe’s, it separates you from lots of medium-sized towns.”
While Trader Joe’s is the No. 1 “trophy company” many Inland Northwest residents covet, it’s not the only one on the list, according to Barcus.
Other trophies are a Whole Foods Market and an IKEA furnishings store, he said.
Trader Joe’s opened in Southern California in 1967. It has grown to more than 330 stores nationwide. The nearest to Spokane are in Issaquah and Portland. Trader Joe’s also has opened stores in cities much smaller than Spokane, including Bend and Corvallis, Ore.
Alison Mochizuki, a spokeswoman for the chain, said the company does pay attention to Facebook efforts like Spokane’s. But Trader Joe’s does not disclose what factors it uses to select new locations.
The company also asks people to submit new-store requests at its own Web site, traderjoes.com. Even so, the company doesn’t say whether focused begging does any good.
“Although it is nice to be wanted, wooing doesn’t go into the decision-making processes of selecting a location,” Mochizuki said in an e-mail response.
That corporate answer, summarized numerous times on the Spokane Facebook page, prompts a variety of user comments. For some, the Trader Joe’s rebuff is proof that Spokane still carries an image of being “flyover country” and a desert wasteland.
Others in the Facebook group say it’s time to forget about Trader Joe’s. They say the community already has good organic and quality food retailers in Huckleberry’s and the Main Market Cooperative.
Barcus, however, said he’s heard rumors that the Trader Joe’s management team has changed course again and is beginning to revise expansion plans. He’s convinced Spokane would be a good location for the company.
The net benefit would go beyond having a place to buy “two-buck Chuck,” the popular, inexpensive Charles Shaw wine the company has carried for years, he said.
Having a Trader Joe’s would add to Spokane’s recruitment profile, helping other companies decide to move here, Barcus said.
“I have to be careful how I say this, but the shopper profile of a Trader Joe’s customer is way different than a Kmart and Walmart customer,” he said. “The decision-makers who might consider relocating to Spokane will tend to be folks who tend to shop at Trader Joe’s or Huckleberry’s.”
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Another_Perspective on April 12 at 6:35 a.m.
Trader Joe’s wont come to Spokane. One of their business models is to be a one day’s away from their warehouse to insure fresh produce/delivery. Plus Spokane doesn’t have the market density that TJ’s is looking for.
If these Californicators want to go to TJ’s, then perhaps a one way ticket would do or they can do what everyone else does. Drive to Seattle/Bellevue/Issaquah.
and dont trust anyone from Avista.
west on April 12 at 7:28 a.m.
Trader Joe’s looks at Spokane as a low income, lower class,meat and potatoes town. No massive upper class, highly educated population that wants the freshest organic fruits…and pay the price. Its not cheap food .
rterrylynch on April 12 at 8:05 a.m.
I’m all for bringing in new businesses but suggest supporting home grown firms first. If the transplants (I was one 50 years ago) are so hungry to upscale their purchases I have to agree the interstate goes both ways. There are differences when comparing Spokane with other communities - that is why we live here. After an 8000 mile trip around the US this year I can assure you we live in the very best community in the USA.
jscott4 on April 12 at 8:13 a.m.
“How can they have a store in some little strip mall and they can’t find a great place (to use) in Spokane, where we have five major universities?” Dickinson said.
My question here: what are the five universities? We have Gonzaga, Eastern, and Whitworth. Maybe four if you count WSU at Riverpoint…I feel it a stretch to include Eastern since its 15 miles away, but five…Seriously, I love how people make comments before reading them.
kneedrager on April 12 at 8:17 a.m.
Home grown stores etc can’t survive here. How many have you seen fail? Too many. Why? because, for some reason, people here only like huge chain/box stores.
I still can’t figure this out, I love supporting local business, heck, I’m one of them, so have a vested interest in it.
And Joes is pretty cool, I’ve been in one, they have really good prices on some decent wine etc. Not to mention some actual healthy food options.
Just say no to High Fructose Corn Syrup, the “Devils Candy”. ;-)
biker on April 12 at 8:19 a.m.
Please….whatever happened to “Buy Local” efforts? Furthermore, how about Spokanites showing a little Spokane envy sans looking over your shoulder wondering what everyone else has. Who really cares. We live in a special region….big enough to enjoy some of the fruits of a diverse economy, yet small enough to get out of town in 10 minutes and enjoy real nature in all it’s splendor. Get off the couch, get out of the car, exit the mainstream and live a little.
MrNatural on April 12 at 8:37 a.m.
I’d settle for a Trader Vic’s…matter of fact I could use a Mai Tai right now…
de727ups on April 12 at 9:01 a.m.
Trader Joe’s is a great chain and I shop there when I’m in Cali. They have higher quality foods at reasonable prices. If it’s a choice between big grocery store and TJ’s, I’ll take TJ’s. And I think a TJ’s would do well in the right location in the local area. I’d put it somewhere within range of Coeur D Alene, though. Actually, Liberty Lake would be perfect for a TJ’s.
That said, I’d rather go to a Huckleberry’s for it’s trendy hang out factor than a TJ’s. If they had either in the Valley, I guess that would be my first choice in food stores.
We don’t need a Whole Foods. Way overpriced mega store. Think Huckleberry’s but 10 times bigger with no local flavor.
What we really need is an In and Out Burger…
tomich99224 on April 12 at 9:55 a.m.
We need a Trader Joe’s here like we need more tax increases. If transplants love their TJ’s so much they should just move back to wherever it was they came here from. We should support business that is already here. There are too many empty buildings around this city right now that became that way because of the current economic situation.
monkeyman on April 12 at 9:56 a.m.
For local produce and organic items try the “Fresh Abundance” store on Division, right opposite to Mountain Gear.
http://www.freshabundance.com
Good option if you would like to support local growers.
eagleproducer on April 12 at 9:56 a.m.
Go the F back to Cali and take all the “transplants” with you. In place of the Trader Joes store we’ll enjoy less crime, less gang influences, less Hispanic gang grafitti and less moronic Californians on our roads in the winter time.
monkeyman on April 12 at 10:03 a.m.
Re: Fresh Abundance:
Just to clarify, you don’t need a membership to shop in the store.
“-Stop By The Store
Prefer shopping? That’s ok, too! We’ve a brick and mortar store at 2015 North Division (across the street from Mountain Gear). The address phone number and even a map is in the box at the right of your screen.”
Dazzeetrader11 on April 12 at 10:07 a.m.
TJ’s has higher quality food? How so? Different label perhaps but it looks and “eats” like the same food as one might find at Rosauers….just not the Zip Trip or 7-11. I love the IN and Out Burger Franchise., Find one!! A Fatburger too!
Buy local was an Envision Spokane idea. I liked it. In a region such as Spokane, things are bountiful and the local economy should be supporting local business because it Si local bsinesses.. If the food products were worse, maybe not… but the region is just loaded with good things.
The lady who’s pushing for a TJ’s said:
“I have to be careful how I say this, but the shopper profile of a Trader Joe’s customer is way different than a Kmart and Walmart customer,” he said. “The decision-makers who might consider relocating to Spokane will tend to be folks who tend to shop at Trader Joe’s or Huckleberry’s.”…caught me by surprise. Elitist yuppie code I guess……made me chuckle. Kmart and Walmart customers are not worthy! <shaking head=”“>
libmark on April 12 at 10:23 a.m.
Thanks to all the commenters (commentators? commenteers?) who vote for local business over “trendy” business. Hell, local is the new trendy so let’s combine the two and go buy our food from our own local farmers and grocers. That way our money stays here in our region instead of being bundled up every night and shipped off to Monrovia, CA.
tomich99224 on April 12 at 10:31 a.m.
What I don’t get is the so-called “organic” craze. Obviously some people are so gullible as to believe if there is a label on something that says organic then it must be organic. What official determines if something is organic? Has the government set up some kind of “Organically Grown Foods Administration”? Some people have more money than brains I suppose.
johnclarke on April 12 at 10:34 a.m.
Californicators ? Whoa ! What is with the hostility? Trader Joes would be a FABULOUS addition to Spokane. Also, “buy local” makes no sense when there is really no offering like Trader Joe’s….Huckleberry’s is not TJ’s. Does that mean we don’t want PF Changs, or the Melting Pot ? What is it with you folks? I am betting you have never stepped foot in a Trader Joes. If you have, you would find nothing but fresh natural product at a good price. They have really unique things you can’t find anywhere else. I hope TJ’s doesn’t read all these negative and pointless comments. I mean really, if you have some issue with Trader Joes - by all means shop elsewhere.
tomich99224 on April 12 at 10:39 a.m.
So if you don’t like Trader Joe’s you’re negative and pointless, but if you do like Trader Joe’s then you’re positive and to the point? Obviously some people have a problem with diversity of opinion.
PS: Have been to TJ’s. Not impressed.
smarg on April 12 at 10:41 a.m.
Another escapee from illegal criminal alien-ville, huh? Can’t blame the CA emigres…their high taxes go to the illegal’s entitlements.
However, in a few years they will begin swamping us in the Inland Northwest.
God help us all.
BigE on April 12 at 10:51 a.m.
I see two problems, Facebook and California, yup hating on both.
They all want some of our paycheck, everywhere you look we have options for shopping.
If they need their CA fix, go back. Yes, I have shopped at Trader Joe’s, I must have missed all the fun.
What the heck is, “trendy hang out factor”, this all goes back to LOOK AT ME
johnclarke on April 12 at 10:55 a.m.
No Mr. Starr, I just don’t see the need for name calling - and the ouright rejection of anything for what amounts to no REAL reason. Yes, it’s a store….not Health Care reform.
So ok, you have been there and not impressed. That is reasonable. I accept your diversity of opinion, even if you are wrong ha ha.
tomich99224 on April 12 at 11:06 a.m.
Hmm, proclaiming that some people have more money than brains amounts to name calling. Very interesting.
Yes, there is always the matter of choice. If TJ’s ever does come to Spokane, I’ll save my money and not shop there and get most of the same things for less at other stores, albeit with a different label, and although my foods won’t be labeled “organic” I’ll live just as well and on average just as long as anybody else.
“There’s a sucker born every minute” is a phrase often credited to P.T. Barnum (1810 – 1891), an American showman. It is generally taken to mean that there are (and always will be) a lot of gullible people in the world.
mykcrawford on April 12 at 11:06 a.m.
I went to the Issaquah store a couple weeks ago out of curiosity for what Trader Joe’s was. Needless to say I was fairly underwhelmed. I didn’t see the “wow” factor or anything special that I couldn’t get elsewhere. What’s the big deal?
johnclarke on April 12 at 11:07 a.m.
*sigh*
Dazzeetrader11 on April 12 at 11:07 a.m.
I’ve been to several J’s around the Western US. I see their labels but cannot see any improvement over what’s here locally. I like the idea of local money staying there in Spokane,
TJ’s is trendy…and the lady’s comments in the last paragraph of the article about sums it up. Fact of the matter is that TJ’s was offerred free rent to come into a large central building here in Spokane and they passed on the offer. The demographic of Spokane didnt interest them. They were much more interested in CDA across the border. Tax burden in WA became too much so they were looking to ID. Plus CDA, to them, was a more interesting and expanding market.
TJ’s is a good store but it’s another chain that likes to promote their image of new, fresh and “selective”. I never could see justification for any of those thoughts. Marketing matters. When I’m in Spokane, I seriously look for Huckleberries.
It has some great items….unique ones as well and it’s a different atmosphere there…at least for this outsider. And it’s local as well.
tomich99224 on April 12 at 11:10 a.m.
Mykcrawford, like the earlier post said, it’s the LOOK AT ME factor.
93bird on April 12 at 11:19 a.m.
I shopped at TJ’s on and off for two years while working in Seattle. I’d bring samples back to friends and family in Spokane on weekends. Some things like the TJ mac and cheese are really good, others like the 2 buck Chuck and TJ cereals are terrible. The place is a grocery novelty store. You can find better selection, service, and quality in any Safeway, Rosauers, or Yoke’s in Spokane. This Trader Joe’s envy reminds me of Krispy Kreme 10 years ago. Just like Krispy Kreme, the sheep will be sleeping on the sidewalk waiting to get in if Trader Joe’s opens up. Who’s fired up about donuts now? Get a life people.
southie4573 on April 12 at 11:28 a.m.
we just do darn redneck for trader joe’s.
Infidel on April 12 at 11:59 a.m.
We have a TJs here near my house in Tumwater, and Tumwater combined with Oly is much, much smaller than Spokane. The combination of Oly + the surrounding areas is maybe comparable to Spokane in size, though I doubt it. Even if it were, it’s not like the whole area is shopping at that one TJs - it’s going to be mostly Tumwater denizens plus some Olympians.
I’m going to go tonight! I wish I could go to the gorgeous new Spokane co-op too. :-(
MrNatural on April 12 at 12:35 p.m.
Opinions can act like a sword
On days when the public is bored
As the populace starts to digress
The read is a tyrannical mess
Espousing the senseless myopic
As they disassemble the topic
What side you defend or you choose
Each way we all sort of lose
So when venting or casting your pearls
Try not to resemble the squirrels
Pease be nice and be civil to others
We all are like sisters and brothers
Peace
The Natch!
PowderKeg on April 12 at 2:41 p.m.
Just so we’re clear, Trader Joe’s does source a lot of its produce, milks, eggs, etc., from local farmers, which does help our local economy.
Also, many of you claim to support local businesses. Well, who do you think is opening many of those local stores?: Transplants. This list is too great to even begin to write here.
Even more, everyone of you are transplants from somewhere else, whether it be the wagon trains your great grandparents come here on or I-90 in recent years.
Am I to assume that none of you shop at Best Buy, Gap, or even Big R (from Montana), Cabela’s (from midwest)?
What about the doctors at Sacred Heart who save your lives?: Transplants.
What about the Zag basketball team?: Transplants.
Let’s think before we post. There’s an idea I’d like to import.
lewis8457 on April 12 at 4:02 p.m.
All cities have their own form of health food store, in Portland it is Natures, in California it is TJ’s in Spokane it is Huckleberries. If a person moves to a new place they owe it to themselves to take in all the elements of their new life if they want to bring locations of their old life into the new maybe they really need to rethink their decision for moving in the first place.
What we need are more local stores like bargain foods and Sonsbergs (sorry not sure of spelling) two stores that have great products found no where else in their level of quality.
Organic is any vegetable grown with out chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the tomatoes I grow every year are organic, it is a scam. What we should be worried about is the meat food supply. The source for our meat is seriously inferior in that we now farm animals like they are pieces of lumber we feed them what is cheap for us to feed not what they should eat. They live in pens or cages so full they can not move. When FDA shows up to inspect the cows to get the down cows to stand they torture them. We feed our cattle corn even though they cant digest it this causes E. Coli because it ferments in their guts. Next time you cut into a piece of meat think about what that animal you are eating endured before its death.
Buy certified free range meat, do your part to end the suffering of millions of feed animals.
johnclarke on April 12 at 5:07 p.m.
PowderKeg, thanks for your comments. I really REALLY don’t get the level of just plain ….I’m not sure quite what on these posts. There are 6,000 plus people on facebook that support the idea, and that is probably just a start. Besides, it’s a STORE people. Funny, I don’t remember this attitude over Winco, Cabela’s, Olive Garden, Changs, Anthony’s or any other chain. I do have a comment for all the food experts out there - as a former purchasing agent I am stunned by the poor quality of produce, meat and fish in the “regular” supermarkets in Spokane. Many don’t offer a USDA meat program, which is a basic level of quality and safety. Yeah, I’m sure I’m going to anger all the grocery store employees, but the truth in easy to see with your own eyes. In Spokane, I find the best food products at Costco, and they certainly have a superior meat program. The produce is always fresh and much better prices. Costco does have a down side, most everything is in family reunion size…and that is what rocks about TJ’s. You can get exactly the quantity you need. I guess those of us that like quality product at a good price (and Trader Joes) are all snobs that just don’t “get” Spokane. Yet another burden I shall have to carry.
PowderKeg on April 12 at 5:25 p.m.
Lewis. I agree with your post about the need to plug into local sources. I shop nearly every other day at Huckleberries and regularly at Main Market and the Farmers Market when it’s open.
That said, there are some things only a Trader Joe’s brings to the table, like carefully sourced bulk products, nuts, wine, etc.
I don’t want in any way to Californicate Spokane. But I do want quality food at a good price. TJ’s augments local sources. It doesn’t replace them. There’s room for more.
Lulubelle on April 12 at 5:28 p.m.
TJs is a great store….locals just need to knock that chip off their collective shoulder and get out a little more…..check out whats out there beyond the city limits of Spokaloo.
And geez, let me see…..who do I want for neighbors…..California transplants or some of our own homegrown white supremacist…..hummmmm, think I’ll go with the CA folks.
spokanesausage on April 12 at 5:31 p.m.
If Huckleberries would add a few more packaged products and an affordable table wine, like chuck of a buck, Hucks would cover about 95% of what Traders does.
Plus it’s locally owned.
misjustice on April 12 at 6:01 p.m.
monkeyman; you are spot on!
Shop Fresh Abundance, not just for its great organic selection but also for heirloom vegetable starts. I bought all of my tomato plants from their location in the Valley last year; I had the best results from their plants that I have ever had (in the years that I have gardened in the Spokane area), lots of fruit, many unique varieties, and the great feeling that comes from supporting a truly local business. Plus the staff is very friendly and supportive, they take the time to answer customer’s questions and assist you in your selections!
This business Rocks! : )
misjustice on April 12 at 6:10 p.m.
Lewis, you made an important point about the meat that we eat. They are held in glorified corporate animal torture chambers, until they are killed.
Feed lots for cattle are especially troublesome…animals “raised” this way release stress hormones into their muscles (and throughout their entire bodies, actually), and then we consume them…additionally, in order to compensate for their poor diets and the crowding issues common in large feed lots, producers must use antibiotics and other “medicines” to keep the animals “healthy” enough until they are slaughtered…very inhumane, very unhealty; all in the name of cheaper Big Macs…
Another_Perspective on April 12 at 6:26 p.m.
Remember, any loon can click on Facebook and they DONT have to live in Spokane to do so.
misjuctice once again spews about a non-article subject.
Another_Perspective on April 12 at 6:27 p.m.
We already have Traitor Christine in Olympia….
Orange on April 12 at 6:31 p.m.
We have enough retail in Spokane. Want to “woo” someone to Spokane, try a big industry to give family wage jobs. Not minimum wage. The little yuppy trend you got going on downtown isn’t working out to great either.
Most on the facebook site, don’t even know what trader joes is. funny
spokanada on April 12 at 6:34 p.m.
How did a facebook group make the Spokesman Review???
agillskis on April 12 at 6:40 p.m.
The amount of misinformation in this thread is disturbing to me. How could Spokane residents be so closed-minded?
1. TJ’s is not expensive. Especially when compared to Huckleberry’s. Don’t get me wrong; I love Huckleberry’s, and I will continue to shop there when TJ’s moves in (yes, I said when). But TJ’s is much less expensive.
2. Stealing customers from Huckleberry’s and Main Market? I doubt it. They’re completely different stores with completely different vibes. Plus TJ’s will convince more companies to move in, prompting new customers for Huckleberry’s and Main Market.
3. You are perfectly free to oppose TJ’s. But before you do, make sure that you have been to a store—preferably more than once, so that you have a good idea about what the store is like and th company culture. Also, have a good idea of the major US corporations that Spokane does not currently host and comparisons between those and TJ’s (keeping in mind the company cultures).
Why is TJ’s definitely moving in within the next few years? Apple. Apple recently decided to locate a Retail Store at Riverpark Square. Apple and TJ’s have very similar company cultures and target demographics. So we should have a TJ’s pretty soon.
spokelooneh on April 12 at 7:18 p.m.
“Tax burden in WA became too much so they were looking to ID”
Ridiculous. Numerous studies have shown WA to be superior to ID in being friendly to business.
And Wallyworld is about to open a new Supercenter in Pullman, and shut down their store in Moscow.
Dazzeetrader11 on April 12 at 8:26 p.m.
Good name “looneh”…it fits. How about posting one or two of those studies? Ask Buck knives or Cabellas about tax structure for corps. Much much cheaper with tremendous tax incentives for corps to be in IDAHO. How about zero tax for 5 years in Idaho for new companies? Gregoire’s new budget asks more for new companies relocating.
CDA-Hayden is growing. Spokane isn’t. New State Auditor’s report shows Spokane population fell by 4000 this past year…..loss of jobs. Nice going…thank Gregoire for her tax structure.
Doesn’t have much to do with the article…just correcting you LOONEH. Thanks in advance.
Another_Perspective on April 12 at 10:31 p.m.
Anthony is on the peyote buttons again. Aisle three at the head shop.
BTW Main market is way overpriced. I would never pay $2.75 for a single red bell pepper. Their wine selection is way too big and does not focus on Washington Wines. It will fail in a year or so. Its basically a Huckleberrys down town and I can get everything there at Fred Meyers for 1/3 the price.
Now if we could get a PCC in town..thats different.
spokanecougar on April 13 at 2:09 a.m.
Support your local stores like the Main Market (which is not priced as bad as any other place in this city regardless of what the above poster says). All these people begging for Trader Joe’s are from either California or Seattle and need to either move back to those places or shut up and support your local businesses in the area you live, stop supporting large national chains and corporations they do nothing to help your community and take all their money and stuff it in the pockets of their already wealthy CEO’s and board members.
catbox on April 13 at 6:49 a.m.
This is a letter I sent to TJ two years ago - after coming back from the Seattle area. Looks like things are a changing for the better. Welcome TJ, good riddance Scamway.;
Web Customer Relations wrote:
Jess,
We appreciate your location request. At this time we do not have any
confirmed plans for a location in this area. However, we keep track of
all the feedback we receive and have forwarded a request to our Real
Estate Department for future site consideration.
Sincerely,
Amy
Trader Joe’s Customer Relations
–—Original Message–—
From: Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 9:16 PM
To: Web Customer Relations
Subject: Trader Joe’s General Feedback Form
Name: Jess Hugh
Phone Number:
Your Trader Joe’s: Spokane???
Email Address:
Comments: Hey, when are you coming to Spokane? I am sooooo ready to eliminate getting ripped off by Safeway - Please help us!! Help!!! Open a store or 3 in Spokane.
We have a half million people in a 12 mile radius. What more do you
need? Cheers, Jess Hugh in Spokaloo.
zac1974 on April 13 at 10:59 a.m.
As someone who was born and raised in Spokane, moved away and lived in both Seattle and Los Angeles, and then was able to move back, I’m saddened by all of the “move back to where you came from” comments. Way to keep it classy. It’s that mentality that has held back Spokane all of these years. You just prove all of the negative stereotypes that others have of Spokane being backwoods. Why are new things so scary for some Spokanites?
One of the best things anyone from Spokane can do is go live somewhere else and understand that there is a bigger world out there. Aside from broadening your horizions, it really makes you appreciate all of the great things about Spokane when you move back. Still, there’s nothing wrong with wanting some of the things that other cities have, some of them would actually improve the quality of life here.
That being said, I’m all for Trader Joe’s and would love to have one here. I used to shop there regularly. Good food and good prices.
spokanecougar on April 13 at 12:26 p.m.
Agent Z-Ro -
Not everyone who says move back where you came from have lived in Spokane their whole life. I am one of those people that say if people cannot support their local business where they live and insist on large national chains and big corporations then they need to move away back to Seattle and California. I have lived in Seattle, Portland, Mexico and California and been all over this country - 43 states total. So before saying everyone who likes to supports local business and hates large chains needs to open their minds a little bit, maybe you should think and realize that maybe we just enjoy supporting our community more than supporting rich wealthy millionaires in Cali or New York or wherever these corporate fat cats live.
zac1974 on April 13 at 3:24 p.m.
Spokane Cougar,
You obviously didn’t read my post very well. I wasn’t talking about everyone, I was talking about the portion of xenophobic Spokanites that think that anything foreign should be run out of town. Also, I never said anything about not supporting local businesses. I like and support plenty of local businesses. Bottom line is I like what I like and you like what you like. However, I’m not opposed to letting others make their own choices, whereas you want to force us all in to your way of thinking.
Lulubelle on April 13 at 5:29 p.m.
I’d like to suggest all the big talkers about “supporting local business” just jump right online and join the Main Market. It’s a great store….the deli is fabulous. I’m a member, shop and lunch regularly and I would welcome a Trader Joes. Different stores……… different stuff.
EagleEye on April 17 at 3:24 a.m.
@misjustice, I always knew that if I stuck around long enough we’d find something that we both could agree upon :-)
She’s right, Fresh Abundance is a terrific LOCAL business with a passion for fresh, organic sources as well as teaching the community how to grow their own food. They offer some very informative classes and spend time teaching school kids, juvenile detention cases, new gardeners and farmers how to grow organically through their non-profit PEACH events.That’s a mission that I can definitely support and they also provide home deliveries! FYI - they had to move their farm out of Spokane Valley because that City government wouldn’t grant them a sellers permit for it, very nearsighted bureaucrats over there in SV).
I only wish Fresh Abundance was more focused on lowering their costs so that the greatest OVERALL number of people could reap the benefits of healthy food. They seem to follow a Robin Hood strategy of soaking the rich (via high store prices) and then turning around and offering generous low cost or free food to the poor through community hand-outs. This may only work for them until some serious competition (such as TJ’s) comes along and enters their market.
Also, I’ve shopped quite a bit at TJ’s in past years. They offer better VALUE than any other store in terms of price vs. quality. However, they’re still a large corporate operation that can’t hold a candle to the local mom and pop stores in terms of knowing what you’re truly getting and where it’s from. Also, though some of their stuff is sourced locally, much of it is sourced wherever it’s least expensive and regulatory oversight is minimal (like Chile).
The biggest reason why TJ’s isn’t interested in coming to Spokane is the economics. Spokane has an estimated per capita income of only $22,849 (2008 figures) and a poverty rate hovering close to 20%. Necessity is the biggest reason why Spokane people frequent Wally Mart, Target, Costco and the Big Box Stores - they’re looking to save every dollar they can just to feed their families. As of now, especially in this economy, there just isn’t a large enough demographic to support a TJ’s (unless they can buy out Huckleberries to eliminate what would be their biggest competition).
Even if TJ’s came to town, I’d still do most of my shopping at Huckleberries, Fred Meyers and Fresh Abundance.